Converting a Marlin 1895G from 18 1/2″ Round Barrel to 24″ Octagon Barrel
I started collecting Marlin lever action rifles a few months ago. A bit of nostalgia as the first NEW rifle I ever owned was a Marlin 336 in 30-30. My girlfriend at the time bought it for me as a birthday present. In 1972 it cost $79! (BTW…I married that girl!)
The bug hit when I saw a 1894 Cowboy at a gun shop. But the price was rather high. About ten times what that 336 cost many years ago. I looked around for a 1894CB in 45 Long Colt and soon found one just one town over. Seems the fellow bought it for Cowboy Action and lost interest. Next I found another 1894CB in 32H&R Magnum. This one came from half way across the country. The 32 H&R Magnum is one of my all time favorite cartridges. I have a number of revolvers chambered for it. A great plinking, small game round. I then started to look for a 22RF. I wanted a 1897 with its octagon barrel to match the other two, but a beautiful 39 Mountie made itself available from a friend so I snatched it up. This left me with a hole in the big bore category. The 45-70 has always been a favorite. One of these days I’ll get a Sabatti Double Rifle in this caliber. So the search started. Very hard to find an octagonal barrel in 45-70, but a buddy of mine was thinning out his collection and sold me his 1895G in just about new condition for a very good price. I bought it with the intention of shipping it off to one of the lever action gunsmiths to have a 22″ octagon barrel installed.

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